When the wind takes a holiday
Some trips start with wind and end with margaritas. Others start with a flawless forecast and end with you swearing at a glassy lagoon. Windless wanderlust is part of the kiter’s life. The trick is turning no-wind days into progress, memories, and stories worth telling back home.
Forecast without heartbreak
Forecasts are promises, not contracts. If you treat them as gospel you will end up bitter and dry. Before you pack, check at least two models and look for agreement on speed, direction, and timing. Once you arrive, stop forecasting and start nowcasting. Radar and satellite layers show what is actually happening, like a sneaky sea breeze front or a cloud bank choking your thermal. Always watch the animation, not just a single frame.
Big mistakes kiters make:
Trusting only one app
Ignoring terrain that blocks wind at rider level
Rigging for the highest gust instead of the average
A good trick is this: if the average cannot keep you happily cruising for an hour, save the kite bag for later and enjoy a coffee. When the breeze fills in, you will be fresh while everyone else is still rigging. For a radar walkthrough that makes sense for kite trips, check out Radar reads your guide to epic kite sessions.
The low wind quiver
If you want to ride when everyone else is scrolling, pack smart. Go bigger, wider, and longer. A kite one or two sizes up from your normal travel quiver plus a flat, wide light-wind board is the classic combo. If you foil, bring a larger front wing and do not be ashamed of a shorter mast in shallow or weed-filled spots.
Line extensions are the cheapest lifesaver. Adding 2 to 4 meters boosts your wind window and apparent wind. Downsides are slower steering, so match it with wider bar settings. Keep both your standard and extended set so you can swap in minutes when the wind decides to show up.
And if you really want to turn 8 knots into fun, foil it. Foiling makes lakes feel like conveyor belts. For a starter’s breakdown, this post might help: Kitefoiling is the closest you will get to walking on water.
Progress without a kite
No wind? Still plenty to gain. The engine that controls your kite is your body, so give it some tune-ups. A balance board or surfskate teaches ankle control, hip movement, and weight shifts that translate straight back into your riding. Add bodyweight work like single-leg hinges, lateral lunges, and banded core moves. Keep it short and fun so you actually do it.
Visualization also works wonders. Pick one trick, map out where your kite is, what you see, and how your body moves, then “ride” it in your head. When the wind finally returns, you will feel like you already tried it.
Water time the sneaky way
Calm water does not mean no water. Morning glass is perfect for a SUP or surf session that builds footwork and wave reading. Foilers can do paddle-ins or prone starts to sharpen pitch control. Or grab small fins and bodysurf, focusing on timing and trim. Even a lake or harbor works for duck dive practice and breath control.
Another underrated win is scouting. Walk the shoreline and map out hazards, exits, and rescue points. Knowing the best tide for clean water or where the sketchy rocks hide will save your skin later. Windless days are a perfect excuse for kiter field research.
Camera skills on standby
If you cannot ride, film. Even a phone plus a waterproof case gets you clips worth editing. Frame riders clean against the horizon, hit record at the apex of jumps, and practice using a short pole or line mount. Swap clips with locals, and in return you often get spot knowledge you would never find on Google.
Later, build quick edit templates. A 20 second cut for reels and a 60 second highlight video, with consistent text and color choices, makes posting painless once the wind returns.
Gear care beats boredom
No wind is the perfect excuse for gear care. Start with lines, equalize them and look for frays. Inflate your kite to full pressure and listen for hissy valves. Cycle your quick release until it is muscle memory, then rinse and lube it. Replace tired pigtails or depower lines before they snap mid-session. Wax zippers, check harness ropes, and patch small canopy tears before they turn into trip-ending rips.
Until the wind comes back
Windless wanderlust is not wasted. It is where you scout, train, film, and fix so the windy days feel twice as rewarding. Plan for options, pack a little extra, and treat calm days like training. The wind will return. And when it does, you will be ready, smug, and already a better kiter.
Worst case, you head home with stronger ankles, a tuned bar, and a highlight reel of your mates… which beats crying into your mojito.
xox Berito